by Lenore Wolfe
“What do you think makes you dislike them so much?” she asked carefully.
“Well, to start with, I wasn’t raised knowing about all the supernatural beings around us,” she said. “And then, I had a run-in recently with a particularly vile one.”
Jes nodded. “Darthanian. I heard about that.”
Mira nodded. “I’ve seen some amazing things lately. Things that I didn’t even know existed just a few short years ago.” She turned to Jes. “But you always knew all these things existed. Why do you suppose they sent me with an aunt who didn’t follow the Jaguar People, where I wouldn’t be taught our ways?”
Jes shrugged. “Maybe they thought if she was living as a human—nobody would suspect her.” She looked away, thinking about that awful day in her dream. She couldn’t drag her mind from it. She looked up to find Mira watching her.
Mira was frowning at her. “You act like you know something,” she accused. “I can feel it.”
Jes smiled. She told her about the dream. She told her about the little girl, her, staring at her older self, as though she were begging her to fix everything.
Mira had silent tears running down her face as Jes finished the story.
“It all makes sense now. I can see it all as clear as day, just as you describe it. And I hate the vampires. I hate these bat-like beings. And I loved our nanny. She was like a mother to me.”
Jes nodded. She was crying again too. “To me, too.” She sniffed.
They sat there like that, crying, for several long minutes.
After a moment, Jes asked Mira, again, how she was going to deal with the fact that Dara was a vamp. She asked because she knew she held the same fears that her sister held.
She asked because she knew she carried the same hate for the vamps that had killed their nanny.
Their nanny had died that day—and they had loved her as much as they loved their own mother—more so, because she was there for them—she was there with them. They had loved her as much as they would a mother. In many ways, she was their mother.
And she had died that day.
Now Dara, the sister they loved as much, the sister who had been ripped away from them for all of these years was, herself, a vamp.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Justice
Justice looked up at the moon from the manor wall. It was a full moon tonight. The white globe illuminated the night, sending shadows across the walls. He tipped his face up to the moon. He was the son of the Dark Mother. He never felt more alive than on a night like tonight.
The moon spread her silver fingers across the ground in shadows and light. Nothing moved except the slight breeze. Even so Justice sensed Dracon several seconds before he actually appeared. He had brought someone with him. As Justice watched them move through the night like shadows, coming closer, he tried to figure out who was it was who accompanied Dracon, half paying attention; however, his main attention was on his men, to see how long it would take them to notice Dracon’s approach.
Dracon frequently tested them this way, and it didn’t take long for one of the guards to send up the alarm.
Dracon appeared only a moment later. He beamed at the guard, which was saying something. He only rarely gave compliments. Still, he had to point out that he would have had only that slight moment to prepare—before he would have been engaged in battle.
And yet—it was a moment. And sometimes that moment saved your life.
“Who have you brought with you?” Justice questioned. He had figured out that she was a woman, and now he was trying to see her face. She wore a long, dark jacket, the belt wide. The jacket wrapped tightly around her body. It came to her thigh. The hood hid her face from view. He sensed that she was a vamp. He could read nothing of her thoughts. So he was pleasantly surprised when Dracon said her name.
“Dara, this is Justice. He will soon be your brother-in-law.”
Justice frowned at this disclosure.
“How did you become so good at shielding your thoughts so quickly?” Justice questioned.
“I am a Jaguar Witch,” she stated as if that explained everything.
Justice gave a slight bow in recognition. “Your sisters have been waiting for you. They will be most happy that you have arrived.”
She returned the bow and went to the manor, disappearing inside.
“She is—something,” Justice mentioned.
“Hmmm,” was all that Dracon said.
But Justice noticed that Dracon had not taken his eyes off of her the entire time it had taken her to cross the compound and enter the manor.
How interesting.
Of course, Mira would not be happy to learn that her newly found sister held the attention of a most dangerous vampire.
Even if her sister was—herself—a vampire.
The two sisters were still just sitting there silently, tears running down their faces, when Dara walked in. They looked up and, in that moment, both of them came flying off the sofa and into their older sister’s arms. This time there were three sisters crying.
They stood that way for a long time. Dara cupped first one sister’s face with both hands, searching her face, then the other. She ran her fingers through their hair. She laughed through her tears.
“I can’t believe I’m home,” she whispered. “It just feels so wonderful to finally be home.”
They all laughed and hugged again.
And if either Mira or Jes remembered that Dara was now a vampire, they pushed it aside. They were just too happy they were reunited, and sad because one of them was now gone.
The sisters talked until well into the night. They talked about the years that had separated them, and what they had each gone through. They talked about how Jes had been able to grow up with her heritage around her, and how Mira had not. They talked about how Dara had soon been a runaway from the family she had been sent to live with, and how she had ended up in foster care, hiding her powers. They talked about every experience—except the one that had made Dara a vampire.
No one wanted to talk about that—not even Dara.
They were remembering the vampires who had taken their nanny and set all their lives adrift.
Very early in the morning they went to sleep, and when they woke—Dara was gone. She didn’t reappear until after dark the next night. When she walked in Mira and Jes ran to hug her. Then, they settled down to work. Jes and Mira soon learned that their big sister knew an impressive amount about spell work. They were pleasantly surprised and set about learning everything they could from her.
The first thing she taught them was that the way they set up their spell could make or break it. So even though they were using a powerful, ancient spell, if they set it up incorrectly, in making it their own, they could significantly impact the spell.
She taught them to state what it was that was happening or going wrong first, then to state the outcome they would like to see.
They set up candles at the four corners and one for spirit. Then, they said the spell they were practicing together. The spell set the room alight, and had there been anything hiding in the shadows, and especially if it had been of the clan of the Bat Thing, they would have been set on fire.
“Wow!” Jes exclaimed. “You wouldn’t want to use that kind of power any ol’ way.”
“Which is why you should never just dabble in witchcraft,” Dara lectured, like the true older sister she was.
Jes made a face at her, which set the three sisters to laughing.
On the third night, when it was closer to dawn then night, Dara prepared to leave them once more.
Jes watched her for a moment, then finally burst out, “Are you always going to go back to Dracon every day, or will there come a day when you will stay?”
Dara gave her a gentle look, reserved in patience for the baby sister. “I will always go back to Dracon.”
Jes didn’t like that answer, and neither did Mira.
Dara looked from one sister to the other. “Are we going to have our first siste
rly fight, already?”
Jes looked at Mira, and Mira looked at Jes. They both shook their heads, looking back at their older sister.
“It must be a much more difficult transition for you—than it is for us,” Jes admitted.
Mira nodded her agreement.
“Not as much as you think,” Dara confessed in a quiet tone.
A tone that should have warned her two sisters that they were not going to like what was coming next.
“It put me back with Dracon.”
“What!” Mira exclaimed.
Jes was too stunned to utter a word.
Dara gave them both a measured look. “I loved Dracon, even as a child. Coming back to him—well, he has been much taken with me too.”
“She even talks like him,” Mira exclaimed to Jes.
Jes gave a nervous giggle. She didn’t know what to think. She was too stunned to say anything now. She had quickly realized that she might say something that she would regret.
Mira had no such restraint.
“Are you crazy?” she asked. “He’s not only one of the oldest and most powerful vamps—but he’s dangerous—just to be around!”
Dara actually laughed. “Okay, sister. I’ll keep that in mind.”
Mira made a face at her.
“Oh,” she said before Dara made her way out the door. “Amar said to give you a message. We’re doing the ceremony—for the Sisters of Three—as soon as possible.”
Dara nodded. “I’ll be ready.” And with that, she went out and shut the door behind her.
Justice was watching when Dara left the manor that night. He noticed that Dracon melted out of the shadows to meet her. He had been waiting for her the entire time she was in the manor visiting her sisters. He had waited at first on the wall with Justice, but had then said he was taking off.
But Justice had noticed that he had only gone to the woods to wait.
And so he had watched.
How interesting, he thought. Dracon had lived a very long time. He had lost more mates than any one man could stand. He had steered away from choosing human females centuries ago.
He had always shown much disdain for vamps of his own kind—and held no interest in turned vamps, as he had always liked to call them.
But now, he was showing interest in a fledgling vamp.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Second Chances
When Justice arrived at Second Chances, Conrad was waiting for him. The tavern was full tonight, and Conrad had called in help. He waved at one of them now, signaling that he’d be right back. The man nodded and went back to making drinks, which were quickly carried off by a waitress.
Justice knew immediately she wasn’t human, and his gaze narrowed on Conrad.
“She’s who I want to talk to you about,” Conrad said, seeing the direction of Justice’s attention. “She’s the one we found trying to escape Constantine’s thugs.”
“Did you just call him Constantine again? Don’t say that too loud.”
“Why not? It’s the truth isn’t it?” Conrad frowned at him. “Just because the old vamp lived clear back since the Biblical days—doesn’t mean he’s God or something.”
Justice gave him a hard look. “No. Not God or something. But Dracon warned you the last time that he seems to have spies everywhere. And how do you know that he didn’t send the girl as a spy?”
Conrad pressed his lips together for a long moment, then said, “You know full well that was the first thing that occurred to me.”
Justice nodded. He did know as much. But he still wanted to hear the answer. He wasn’t one for taking chances.
“I have set her up with a series of false information,” Conrad said telepathically.
Justice nodded that he had received that information. He sat down at one end of the bar. He observed the humans carrying on, and he watched the girl Conrad had brought in going back and forth between the customers and the bar, efficiently taking them drinks. She seemed right at home dealing with them, keeping them happy, and easily staying out of the reach of their drunk, groping hands.
Justice had no idea how women did it.
She laughed, and kept an upbeat attitude, but easily kept the men well in-line. She was a natural. And Justice knew that Conrad could use the help on certain nights. There were a couple of nights during the week, as well as Friday and Saturday nights, when Second Chances was particularly packed.
There were rumors about this place.
But it seemed to him that the rumors had only caused people to pack in all the more—not less.
Humans sure are prone to being attracted to danger, he thought with a shake of his head.
As if to prove that true, Justice watched as a vamp entered the dimly lit tavern. He would have recognized a vamp even if his hackles hadn’t risen at his first good whiff, even from across the bar.
He glanced over at Conrad, noting that the vamp’s appearance hadn’t escaped his attention either. Nor had it escaped the guards, who had become regulars the past few weeks since they’d had to increase security. Conrad had simply appeared to have hired a much-needed bouncer and a couple of bartenders. Three more guards had become regular customers, just old friends from his past.
These were people who loved to party. The more the merrier. It didn’t seem to occur to any of them to be suspicious. In fact, they seemed to like the extra men. If anyone had become suspicious, it was the vamps. But there were enough rumors out on the streets about this place to do that all on its own.
The guards intercepted the vamp and escorted him out the back door, where Justice quickly met them.
“Who are you? And why are you here?” he snarled at the vamp.
The vampire looked at the guards. He had quickly realized he was surrounded by men who really could take him down. He snarled back at them, but otherwise refused to speak.
“Take him to Dracon,” Justice hissed, not taking his eyes from the vamp’s hard gaze. The vamp’s eyes went even darker at the name. So the idea of meeting Dracon hadn’t set well with him. Justice found that interesting.
Very interesting indeed.
Justice didn’t leave the tavern. He knew that Dracon would catch up with him there—just as soon as he had dealt with the vamp. He showed up within three hours after Justice had sent the vamp to him. Justice knew that it would have taken the guards at least an hour to transport the vamp to him.
Either Dracon had made short work of him, or he had used supernatural means to get back to the tavern.
Dracon joined him at his booth as soon as he came into the tavern. Several men turned to stare, but quickly looked away.
“You haven’t really lost your—vampire form,” Justice noted. “You’re spooking the customers.”
Dracon nearly snarled, but then reined himself in. Slowly he took on a more—natural look—if that was what you could call the human look.
“Well?” Justice asked after a long moment.
“Why didn’t you come with him?” Dracon nearly accused. “You could have saved me a trip.”
Justice’s gaze narrowed on Dracon. What had gotten into him? “I thought it—more prudent that I watch to make sure no one else showed up after him—since I sent the guards with him.”
Dracon looked away. He seemed to work to control his emotions—which was rare for Dracon.
Justice waited.
After several, long moments, Dracon looked at him. “He tried to cut a deal.”
Justice felt an internal lurch in the deepest part of his gut, but he didn’t move, just waited for Dracon to elaborate.
“That vamp brought him Dara. He’d been ordered to hunt her down by our—ummm… friend. He said he didn’t realize who she was, just did what he was ordered.”
Justice gaze narrowed on him. “How did he possibly do all that without knowing who she was?”
Dracon nodded. “That’s what I said. He said he was brought in after they had—incapacitated her,” he hissed this last part, revealing the depth
of his emotions.
“Something tells me you didn’t let him live?”
“Would you?” Dracon snarled.
“Hmmm, your fangs are showing,” Justice noted quietly.
Dracon growled beneath his breath, but reined himself in once more.
Justice waited. After several moments, he went on. “We could have used the information we got out of him,” he stated in undertones.
Dracon nodded, “And that is the only reason he lives.”
Justice had to work not to let out the breath of relief he felt.
Chapter Twenty-Five
War
The second town held a group of vamps who came to join the talks. They were not so inclined to make anything easier on the humans. They felt the humans had brought it upon themselves. But they were in no hurry to put the Earth in any further jeopardy, either, by warring amongst themselves—or the other races living on Earth. They said they would be with Justice and Dracon—should they be needed—to put the rebellious factions of vamps on guard—that they would indeed have a war with their own people—if they didn’t stop this separation from the Alliance.
The Alliance had worked—as far as all were concerned—even though the humans had forgotten everything. It had worked—because the Greys had not been able to take over the Earth—they still had their home—and they weren’t about to allow groups of rebels to jeopardize all of their hard work.
So it went with the next dozen towns—out of the hundreds they still needed to visit. It was a daunting task—and they were all already tired—as they set off toward the next one.
Not knowing how fast the word was spreading—of their coming, and what they were doing—to these rebellious factions of vamps, who had a rally of their own prepared to meet them.
They didn’t go so far as to attack the peace-seeking groups. But they had a right to speak—and they were there to be heard. This set the Fae groups on edge—since they had been looking forward to being heard themselves, and didn’t appreciate the intrusion by the vamps—who were not even from their town.